1-1 sustainablility notes
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 1Chapter 1Environmentally Sustainable Environmentally Sustainable
SocietySocietyBy Mr. “hungry” ChapmanBy Mr. “hungry” Chapman
Environmental SustainabilityEnvironmental Sustainability• Sustainability – Ability of earth’s various
systems, including human cultural systems and economies, to survive and adapt to changing environmental conditions indefinitely.
• Human actions have put long-term sustainability in doubt
It’s All About SustainabilityIt’s All About Sustainability• Sustainability depends on three key principles• 1. Solar energy
– Warmth, Energy for plants to make food, Powers water cycle, creates wind
Principals’ of SustainabilityPrincipals’ of Sustainability• 2. Biodiversity (biological diversity)
– Variety of species, many ecosystems, renew soil and purify air and water
Principals’ of SustainabilityPrincipals’ of Sustainability• 3. Chemical Cycling
– Recycles nutrients because limited supply, cycle from organisms to environment and back, needed to sustain life
Fig. 1-1, p. 5
Solar Energy
BiodiversityChemical Cycling
What Is an Environmentally What Is an Environmentally Sustainable Society?Sustainable Society?
• Our lives and economies depend on energy from the sun, natural resources, and natural services provided by the earth.
• Living sustainably means living off earth’s natural processes without depleting or degrading the natural resources.
Living More SustainablyLiving More Sustainably
• Natural Resources - resources and services that keep us and other forms of life alive.
• Natural resources – materials and energy in nature that are essential or useful to humans (air, water, soil)
• Natural services – process in nature that support life like purification of air and water, nutrient cycling.
Fig. 1-2, p. 7
Deadorganicmatter
Organicmatter inanimals
Organicmatter in
plants
Inorganicmatter in soil
Decomposition
Fig. 1-3, p. 8
1-2 How Are Our Ecological 1-2 How Are Our Ecological Footprints Affecting the Earth?Footprints Affecting the Earth?
• Perpetual resource – renewed continuously (Solar energy) • Renewable resource – days to centuries (water, air, forests,
soil, fish populations)• Nonrenewable – fixed quantities (fossil fuels, metals, minerals)• Environmental degradation - exceeds natural replacement
rate.
• As our ecological footprints grow, we deplete and degrade more of the earth’s natural capital.
Fig. 1-4, p. 10
Ecological FootprintEcological Footprint
• Ecological footprint– The amount of biologically productive land and
water needed to indefinitely supply the people in a given area with renewable resources
– Also includes the land and water necessary to absorb and recycle wastes and pollution
• Per capita ecological footprint– Average ecological footprint of an individual in a
given area (takes into account number of people)• China – large ecological footprint because so many people
• China – small per capita footprint each person only contributes a little
Fig. 1-5, p. 11
Stepped Art
Ecological FootprintEcological Footprint
• Ecological deficit– Total ecological footprint greater than what
the earth can support
– 2008 study: at least 30% global excess
– Humans currently need 1.3 earths
– 88% for high-income countries
– Need 6 earths if everyone lived like Americans
Fig. 1-7, p. 13
Environmentalimpact of population
(I)
Developing Countries
Population (P)
Developed Countries
Consumptionper person
(affluence, A)
Technological impact per unit of
consumption (T)
Developed Countries Have Developed Countries Have Higher ImpactsHigher Impacts
• Developed countries–United States, Japan, New Zealand,
most of Europe, some others
–19% world population
–Use 88% of world’s resources
–Create 75% of world’s pollution
Developing CountriesDeveloping Countries
• 81% world population• Middle income: Brazil, China, India• Least developed: Haiti, Nigeria,
Nicaragua• Use far fewer resources per capita
(per person) than developed countries• Smaller per capita ecological footprint
Tragedy of the CommonsTragedy of the Commons
• Environmental degradation of openly shared renewable resources
• Users focus on their own selfish, short-term gain
• Works when only a small number of users
• Big part of why humans now live unsustainably